| Overall Rating |
 |
| Description |
| Steer clear. It's a Mercedes Sprinter van with windows and a leather interior, plus a truly ridiculous pricetag. Nowhere near the standards of proper premium MPVs. |
| Handling |
|
| Comfort |
 |
| Quality & Reliability |
|
| Performance |
|
| Roominess |
 |
| Running Costs |
|
| Value for Money |
|
| Stereo/Sat Nav |
 |
| Best Models |
| None |
| Worst Models |
| All are terrible |
| Replacement |
| 2005 |
|
 |
| Road Test |
| The V Class sells on the twin principles that one is born every minute and that a fool and his money are quickly parted. The Mercedes-Benz badge and posh interior barely begin to disguise the fact that the V Class is, basically, a commercial vehicle. Ride is reasonable on smoother roads, but bigger bumps or potholes will have the cheap-feeling interior trim trembling and creaking. And the V Class corners exactly as you would a expect a van to: reluctantly and at acute lean-angles. Petrol engines offer slow performance, but the 220 CDI turbodiesel is positively glacial, and noisy too. Modern full-sized MPVs are almost infinitely better, and if you're looking for a commercial-based family minibus the Ford Torneo is cheaper, more comfortable and better constructed. |
| Positive Points |
- Boxy body is very spacious and airy
- Solidly built, good reliability, reasonable running costs
- Six-seater interior has comfortable seats
|
| Negative Points |
- Petrol models are quite thirsty
- Looks like a Merc delivery van with extra windows
- Firm ride and fairly modest performance
|
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